[The prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies in children from social assistance units in the county of Iaşi].
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-HCV antibody (Ab) in association with specific markers for hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). We investigated 127 children from two orphanages from Iaşi District (77 males--60.6%). An ELISA kit, IInd generation (Diagnostic Pasteur) was used for anti-HCV determination. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HAV/total antibodies were diagnosed by ELISA competitive and "sandwich" type respectively (Wellcome-Murex). 16.8% from all children was "repeated reactive" for anti-HCV Ab test; majority of them (88.9%) had a positive result for anti-HAV/total Ab and 30.7% were "carriers" for HBsAg.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) the prevalence of anti-HCV Ab is more than 3 fold, comparative with the 4.5% value from blood donors in our region; (2) the high level for HBsAg as marker for an HBV infection requires to test the children's liver function to select and monitor them for IFN treatment purposes; (3) for HAV, which is never involved in chronic infection, even if the vaccination is now available, the cost/benefit ration, suggests that the unspecific prevention methods still keep their value.
Iancu
L S
LS
Facultatea de Medicină, Disciplina de Microbiologie, Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr. T. Popa, Iaşi.
Macovei
O
O
Tourle
C
C
Beadsworth
A
A
Duca
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019372:Orphanages; D015995:Prevalence; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies
Prevalenţa anticorpilor anti-virus hepatitic C la copii din unităţi de asistenţă socială din judeţul Iaşi.